My dream...
is to create a world with no ninjas.
What does that mean?
Ninjas exist to protect peace in secret.
Therefore, a world with no ninjas could only arise from a world truly at peace.
Don't you think?
I don't want you or the children who come after you
to dirty your hands any more.
Let me help you achieve your dream!
I'd appreciate it.
Silence your heart.
Kokuten Ninja Academy
EPISODE 5 CYCLE OF PAIN
Now then, let's begin home room.
Ms. Mitsuhashi, where's Nemoto?
He started his long break a little early.
Huh?
An early summer break...
I'm jealous.
Don't get into summer break mode just yet.
The end-of-term exam is next week.
It will be a practical exam conducted jointly with all classes.
The exam is extremely dangerous.
Students are injured every year.
In the worst cases, there have been fatal accidents.
A ninja walks shoulder to shoulder with death.
Keep your wits about you.
Are fatal accidents really that common?
From what I've heard, every year there's one or two...
or maybe ten?
No way!
Koga is sure to make a move.
You think I could skip the exam?
You failed the ninja tool exam,
so if you play hooky now, don't complain if you're expelled.
Expelled?!
Uninhabited island.
I will kill you.
Throughout the long history of ninjas,
Koga has always boasted the greatest power
and expanded its power by swallowing up other villages.
Acts of aggression are prohibited under the Ninja Ordinances.
That's why they put financial pressure on the villages.
I would never let that stand!
But they can't fight back.
It was the previous chief, Kishinmaru, who changed all of that.
Kishinmaru aimed to walk a path of peace hand in hand with the other villages.
Name Sex Village
Kishinmaru Minobe Male Koga
- The second son of Yuki Minobe. - Graduated valedictorian of Kokuten Ninja Academy and set a record score in the practical exam, which, to this day, no one has surpassed. - At 18, put down the Ise Nagashima Uprising in cooperation with the NSC. - At 20, at the Japanese government's request, suppressed a terrorist group in perfect secrecy without producing a single casualty. - As a result of these achievements, became Koga chief at the young age of 21. - Pursued friendly relations with the villages that had cut off relations and accomplished numerous reforms, such as remedying economic disparities, employment stabilization for public cover jobs, and regulations on use of ninja tools of mass slaughter. - Despite the discord resulting from Koga's long period of domination, through patient diplomacy, he brought about peaceful village unification and alliances, which were estimated to involve roughly half the villages in Japan.
He was even dubbed Koga's finest ninja,
and he was admired not just in Koga, but by many ninjas, regardless of village.
And despite that, he was killed.
I just can't fathom the motive.
Even if we assume it was the work of Iga village, why?
The current problem is that Koga holds a fierce grudge against Iga.
All-out war is a hair's breadth away.
If that happens, great harm not just to ninjas,
but also to ordinary people will be unavoidable.
We must uncover the truth and resolve the situation as soon as possible.
That concludes my report.
What of the contract with Saiga?
It will... require more time...
They are necessary.
Use somewhat forceful measures if you have to.
Yes, sir.
The meeting is over.
Housen, could we speak for a moment?
Yes.
Have you spoken to Suzaku about the Academy?
No... is there some issue with my son?
His grades are top of the class.
They say his brilliance ranks alongside Kishinmaru's.
I was a disappointment who couldn't even get in to the Academy.
You have a fine son.
Thank you for those words.
As you can see, I'm frail and could die at any moment.
The issue of who should succeed as Koga's chief is always on my mind.
I consider Suzaku a fine candidate.
I will be the one to carry on your will.
Are you alright?
I failed to truly comprehend Chief Kishinmaru.
Why did he seek peace so dearly?
It was because he knew the pain of loss.
Once you experience pain, hurting others becomes difficult.
Let's tackle the practical exam with our Old Dorm team!
This'll be strategy meeting number one!
Sorry!
I won't join you this time.
What? How come?
I don't want to cause problems for you.
Well, good luck!
This is good. Now the traitor can't do anything.
Ittoki.
It's only a prototype, but it's Saiga village's latest ninja tool for use in disguise.
Please take it.
When paired with a Ninja Suit, it can disguise your whole body and even your voice.
Compared to previous models, it can hold way more disguise data,
so you can turn into nearly anyone in the Old Dorm—
Thanks, but I'm fine.
Please, take it.
The Academy hasn't handed out any ninja tools for disguising,
so the Koga students won't expect you to use one.
It's sure to come in handy.
If they were to find out I'm using it, it'd put a target on all of you.
You're always concerned about other people, Ittoki.
Ittoki, I'm concerned about you.
Why'd you just waltz in here?
In the practical exam, we'll attack.
What in the world are you talking about?
I'll take down Suzaku.
Excuse me?
His intent to kill is real.
If you fight him, you'll be killed for sure.
So I'll strike first and defeat him.
You find a way to take care of the other Koga ninjas.
No.
Yumika has ordered me to protect you.
That doesn't matter!
You might be k-killed too!
That's always a possibility.
Not the point! What, so you're willing to die for someone like me?
That's life as a ninja.
What the hell?!
Kill, be killed... It's all totally messed up!
That's life as a ninja.
Don't follow me!
Today
How are you?
Today
How are you?
I'm alive.
How are you?
I'm alive.
Today
Roger!
How are you?
I'm alive.
Today
How are you?
I'm alive.
How is the young master doing?
He seems to be safe.
I'm glad.
Is the Ninja Academy a fun place?
I've never been, so...
I never heard much about it from my husband, Hidetoki, either.
Are you worried about him?
I was just thinking about how he must resent me.
Staying up late, young man?
I'm sorry. I'll go back to my dorm soon.
Come with me for a bit.
Sorry to make you humor an old man.
No, it's nice. Thank you.
Too hot?
No...
It's just... Are ninjas killers?
The Three Ninja Principles are, "Do not be discovered. Do not kill. Do not betray."
I was told my father died because he was a ninja.
I was told that Iga killed Koga's chief,
and because of that, they want to kill me.
Is that what being a ninja means?
A peaceful world with no war, crime, or killing...
That's a fairy tale.
But it's too precious a thing to give up on.
That's why ninjas have shouldered the dirty work in the shadows.
To protect the fairy tale we call peace.
You're not the first kid to ask me that sort of question, you know.
Kishinmaru Minobe did, too.
And also Hidetoki Sakuraba.
Your father.
After hearing what I said, they both gave the same response.
"That's not what I want to be."
Thanks for the tea.
You're here, aren't you, Kousetsu?
What do you want me to do?
The exam tasks you with taking a Ninja Core from someone.
Take my core from me.
Ha ha. Very funny.
Huh?
Damn.
Stale. Crude.
Shut up!
Still, using a surprise attack was very ninja-like.
Fighting head-on is reckless.
There's only one way to survive.
Lie in wait, and take the opponent by surprise!
If I fail, run immediately.
Run! Run! Run!
I'll strike Suzaku immediately.
You lie in wait and grab someone's Ninja Core, then stay hidden until the exam ends.
Let's make this your first ambush point.
Got it.
Back to training.
What? Hold on!
This will let us take Ittoki Sakuraba down for sure.
Are you serious, Suzaku?
You think we'll go along with a plan like this?
Yeah!
It's nuts!
He's crazy!
If you don't like it,
then prove you're superior to me.
We're doing all of this for Koga.
I'll do it! Ain't no room for cowards in Koga!
Offer your lives for the late Chief Kishinmaru!
We will now conduct the end-of-term practical exam!
You pass if you obtain another student's Ninja Core within the time period.
If you lose your Ninja Core, you fail.
Additionally, use of ninja tools to injure or kill is prohibited.
Now, begin!
Kousetsu!
If things go wrong, run.
They won't.
As planned, Vajra and Kundali head to point Fifth Hot Hell.
Vajra and Kundali, at point Fifth Hot Hell.
Storming in!
That whittles their numbers down quite a bit. Good work...
Traitor.
What?
H-How?
We threw that map away on purpose.
What're you doing?
Hurry! Take his Ninja Core and hide!
I know.
I had no choice.
They threatened to crush my village if I didn't do what they said.
I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
What is it?
I found Ittoki.
What happened?
Operation complete. I'll handle the rest.
What?
No way!
It's comical how well Suzaku's plan worked.
Suzaku complimented you.
He said we couldn't beat you even if we all took you on together.
We won't let you get away, even if it kills us!
An explosion?
Contact the medical team!
This is nothing compared to Koga's pain!
Run!
Are you kidding me?!
Run!
I can't believe such sorry ninjas...
Why Chief Kishinmaru?!
Why'd you kill him?
Why did you destroy Chief Kishinmaru's peace?
Know pain!
I refuse... to die.
Accept the punishment for Iga's sin!
Shut up!
You're the killer here.
Silence.
If you don't experience pain, you people will repeat your same mistake.
It's people like you that repeat them!
There's no reason that makes it okay to kill someone!
We have to endure the pain. There's no other choice!
Otherwise, even more people get hurt. I won't accept that!
I refuse... to die!
So that's...
your definition of justice?
Run!
And then...
You coward!
Don't run from me, Ittoki Sakuraba!
I don't like you.
But...
I don't want you to become a killer.
Kokuten Ninja Academy
Everyone...
Thank goodness!
Kousetsu...
She's pretty beat up herself, but she never left your side.
Plus...
You get some rest, too, Kousetsu.
If anything should happen, I'll slaughter all of Koga.
Downright terrifying.
I'm glad I'm alive.
What the hell do you mean?
Then what the hell did we do this for?
I'm sorry.
Don't frickin' apologize!
Damn it! Damn it all...
Do Not Enter
Air ducts again...
Data extraction nearly complete.
As expected, all the values are ideal.
Of course they are. He's Koga's finest ninja.
If you're gonna tail me, do it well.
Do Not Enter
You knew the whole time and chose to show me that?
What was that?
Do Not Enter
Do your job yourself.
Are you that concerned about the traitor?
I can't think about him that way after finding out why he did it.
You're such a kind soul, Ittoki.
That's gonna bite you in the butt some day.
Sorry to interrupt.
Um, a ton of students from my dorm have stopped going to school.
Might you have something to do with that?
Are you serious?
Um, please find it in your heart to spare me.
There are still things I need you to do.
Yes, sir! Whatever it is, say the word...
Master Suzaku.
You experience warmth.
And in that moment,
you learn how cold it is in the shadows.
Next time on Shinobi no Ittoki episode 6: "Shadow and Warmth."
Episode 6: Shadow and Warmth